Author: Kristen

A Perfect Circle Returns!

Posted on by Kristen

Last week, I had the extreme privilege of seeing A Perfect Circle perform live for one of the first times in over five years. I’ve been a fan of this group ever since about the time they decided to go on “hiatus”. How I discovered A Perfect Circle is…well it’s a funny story that will not be shared on these pages.

Point being, the performance, albeit a brief one filmed for Jimmy Kimmel Live, fulfilled a personal fantasy and definitely did not disappoint.

For those of you who don’t know, A Perfect Circle, is the musical collaboration between Tool frontman, Maynard James Keenan, and Ashes Divide’s Billy Howerdel. The two men positioned themselves on the stage as part of a semi-circle along with Josh Freese (drums), Matt McJunkins (bass), and James Iha (rhythm guitar). I suppose the other half of the “perfect circle” is the audience who, at the Kimmel taping, were in complete unison with the band, swaying, fist pumping, and singing along to every note.

The band is playing several dates in a few select cities, including three nights here in LA at The Avalon, one night dedicated to each of their three released albums (Mer de Noms, Thirteenth Step, and eMOTIVe). You can check here for dates, although all the performances sold out within minutes.

Someone recorded “Imagine” from the Kimmel set…

my favorite A Perfect Circle song (unfortunately not played at the Kimmel set…and therefore forcing me to think about how much money I’m willing to spend on craigslist tickets for the second night of APC’s LA stint)

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 11/1-11/7

Posted on by Kristen

I hope you’re all enjoying your holiday weekend! After Nico Vega’s witch hunt on Friday and a haunted housewarming Saturday, I’m all Halloweened out. Well…an early morning meeting tomorrow + the overwhelming amount of work I am behind on is kinda forcing me to stay in and avoid the crazy. At least I’m celebrating by watching season 3 of Supernatural whilst I work…still getting my fill of vamps, demons, ghosts, dark lighting and creepy music.

Anyway, I’m taking a little break from the excel spread sheets, to bring you my fantasy concert list for the week. I hope someone will be able to get something out of it…

Monday: Chasing Kings at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Joel Eckels, Brother Sal, Austin Hartley Leonard (8,9)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Dan Layus and a special guest (10:30)…FREE with RSVP (http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/)

 Tuesday: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Kaki King and Northstar Session at The Hotel Cafe (7,9)

 Weds: 8mm at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Donavon Frankenreiter at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Voxhaul Broadcast at Spaceland (8:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Rockers Society at Crane’s 

Thursday: Matt Hires and Five for Fighting at The Brixton (8pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton and Alex Denizen at The Hotel Cafe (7,10)
ALSO: Nellie McKay at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Emily Wells at Largo at Coronet (8:30) 

Friday: My Own Machine at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: Anna Nalick at The Mint (9pm)
ALSO: Bayside at The Troubadour (10:30)
ALSO: Paula Cole at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Dr. Dog at The Wiltern (7pm)

 Saturday: Florence + The Machine at The Wiltern (7:30)

Sunday: Florence + The Machine at The Wiltern (7:30)

 

To Keep in Mind:
November 8th-10th: A Perfect Circle at Avalon
November 12th: Teitur at Bootleg Theater
November 13th: Terrible Things and Mae at The El Rey
November 16th: The Lonely Forest at Spaceland
November 17th: Tyler Hilton at The Roxy
November 18th: Freelance Whales at The Troubadour
November 21st and 22nd: Dar Williams at The Hotel Café
December 1st: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Scarlet Grey at The Troubadour
December 4th: Joe Firstman at Saint Rocke
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium 

~ Kristen
https://twitter.com/_localmusicnat

Listen to This!: Amy Correia

Posted on by Kristen

Tonight at The House of Blues on Sunset, JP, Chrissie, and the Fairground Boys are playing. While I’m definitely intrigued by this collaboration between Welsh singer JP Jones and The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde, I’m really going because of the opening act. Amy Correia is a folksy singer-songwriter from Lakeville, MA. I stumbled upon Amy several years ago. My mother was in town for a visit and I wanted to take her to a show. None of my favorite bands were playing so we took a gamble and went to Steel City Coffee House in Phoenixville, PA where Amy happened to be playing.

Amy’s unique voice, personable in between song banter, and tunes that were the perfect amalgamation of story and catchy melody were captivating.  The song I remember most from that evening was “Gin”.  Amy was slightly taken aback when two young girls requested the tune, a tale of an alcohol-induced one night stand.  Turns out “Gin” became one of my favorites as well. There is something about Amy’s voice that makes everything she sings somehow tinged with sadness and longing; perfect for songs about mothers lost to prison, blind river boys, or any place, person or thing that as acquired some sort of nostalgic value.

I used to see Amy every time she came to town, but I haven’t had that opportunity in years. I was thrilled to see she was going to be in LA this week…and that she has a new CD (You Go Your Way) released this year. I am very much looking forward to hearing what she’s been up to over the last few years…from what I gather the title of the new disc is indicative of her leaving her label and becoming yet another musician to take the DYI approach to recording music.

So, check out some of Amy Correia’s music and then make your way down to The House of Blues tonight to see Amy warm up the crowd for JP, Chrissie, and The Fairground Boys. It’ll be a good night!

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/24-10/31

Posted on by Kristen

Does anyone else sink into a depression when deprived of live music for over a week? This past week has just been brutal. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities for redemption this week…including the event I’ve been looking forward to alllll month, Nico Vega headlining at The Roxy with Saint Motel, Imagine Dragons, and Queen Caveat. You best be there in your witchy wear!

But that’s not all. Plenty of great shows this week to get me out of this funk. Here’s what I’ve got going:

Monday: Amy Correia at House of Blues Sunset (8pm)
ALSO: John Meeks at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Jessie Baylin at Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Aqualung at Bardot for it’s a school night FREE with RSVP (http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 

Tuesday: Curtis Peoples and Josh Hoge at Molly Malone’s (9:30)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Lights at The El Rey (9pm) 

Weds: The Nervous Wreckords at Bordello (11pm)
ALSO:  Steel Train and fun at The Music Box (8pm) 

Thursday: Free Energy and Foxy Shazam at The Troubadour (9:15, 10:15)
ALSO: Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale and Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)
ALSO: Kate Nash at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Moving Picture Show and The Nervous Wreckords at The Viper Room (10,12) 

Friday: Nico Vega, Saint Motel, Imagine Dragons, and Queen Caveat at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Electric Touch at The Viper Room (11:50)
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Stone Temple Pilots at Nokia Live (8pm)
ALSO: Rock N Roll Circus Halloween at The Echo featuring Andy Clockwise, Henry Clay People, Etc. (7pm) 

Saturday: last minute Halloween costume shopping….

Sunday: Purple Melon at The Viper Room (10:30)

To Keep in Mind:
November 2nd: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
November 4th: Five for Fighting at The Brixton
November 5th: Bayside at The Toubadour
November 6th-7th: Florence + The Machine at The Wiltern
November 8th-10th: A Perfect Circle at Avalon
November 12th: Teitur at Bootleg Theater
November 13th: Terrible Things and Mae at The El Rey
November 16th: The Lonely Forest at Spaceland
November 17th: Tyler Hilton at The Roxy
November 18th: Freelance Whales at The Troubadour
November 21st and 22nd: Dar Williams at The Hotel Café
December 1st: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Scarlet Grey at The Troubadour
December 4th: Joe Firstman at Saint Rocke
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium 

~ Kristen
https://twitter.com/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/18-10/24

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That blank white page really is filling me with rage this week. My favorite Mumford & Sons tune will have to be performed without me in the audience tomorrow (Monday Oct. 18th) at The Palladium as I will be proctoring an exam that evening. It was quite painful to give away my ticket (purchased during the pre-sale mind you). But, as they say, life goes on…as does the music. With Joe Firstman tonight at the Hotel Cafe and a host of promising acts to fill the week, I’m sure I’ll get by ;).

Here are my musical suggestions this week:

Monday: Mumford & Sons at The Hollywood Palladium (7pm)
ALSO: Griffin House at The Troubadour (9:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 

Tuesday: The Diamond Light at Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Northstar Session at The Hotel Cafe (9pm) 

Weds: Flyleaf and Story of the Year at House of Blues (7:45)
ALSO: BellX1 at The Hotel Café (9pm)
ALSO: Matt White at The Viper Room (7:45) 

Thursday: Griffin House at Saint Rocke (10pm)
ALSO: Dead Country at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Alex Dezen at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Assemble the Skyline FREE at Hot Topic on Hollywood and Highland (6:30)
ALSO: The Shakers at The Kibitz Room at Canter’s Deli (10:30) 

Friday: Prohibition Rose at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Buckcherry at The Honda Center in Anaheim (8pm) 

Saturday: Sufjan Stevens at The Wiltern (7pm) 

Sunday: Joan Osborne at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: The White Buffalo at Saint Rocke (9:30) 

To Keep in Mind:
October 28th: Foxy Shazam and Free Energy at The Troubadour
October 29th: Nico Vega at The Roxy
November 2nd: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
November 4th: Five for Fighting at The Brixton
November 5th: Bayside at The Toubadour
November 6th-7th: Florence + The Machine at The Wiltern
November 8th-10th: A Perfect Circle at Avalon
November 13th: Terrible Things and Mae at The El Rey
November 17th: Tyler Hilton at The Roxy
November 18th: Freelance Whales at The Troubadour
November 21st and 22nd: Dar Williams at The Hotel Café
December 4th: Joe Firstman at Saint Rocke
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium 

~ Kristen
https://twitter.com/_localmusicnat

Tonight! George Stanford at The Hotel Cafe

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After a day like today, I’m really going to need a cathartic sing-along. Fortunately another Philly transplant, George Stanford has a gig at The Hotel Cafe. With songs like “Big Drop” and “Nikole” one can’t help but sing and sway all your troubles away. George’s plesant voice and mellow vibe is sure to relax me before I gear up for another work weekend. If you also need a dose of TGIF, for whatever reason, come join me tonight, Friday October 15th 11pm at The Hotel Cafe!

Come early for a little Sahara Smith (7pm), Laura Martin with Arrica Rose (8pm), Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven (9pm), and Parlor Hawk (10pm) and stay for Johnny Moezzi at midnight.

Let’s hear it for a lovely evening of  music at the end of a challenging week!

~ Kristen